Holtby was one of the biggest stories in the playoffs last year as he helped carry the Caps to within a victory of the Eastern Conference finals by putting up a 1.95 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. At 22 years old, he showed the poise of a veteran.
Holtby will start the regular-season finale against the Boston Bruins as he and the Caps get into playoff pattern.
A groin injury kept Laich out for the first 28 games of the season with a groin injury, and he has missed the past three. He suffered a lower-body injury Thursday that coach Adam Oates said negatively impacts Laich's groin.
Before Sunday night, the Washington Capitals' backup goaltender hadn't played a game since March 16, and he hadn't started at home since Feb. 5.
Brooks Laich will see a groin specialist Tuesday as the Washington Capitals hope to pinpoint exactly what's wrong with the injured forward.
Braden Holtby doesn't have the heaviest workload among goaltenders around the NHL. He's not even in the top 10 in starts. But Holtby is undoubtedly the man for the Washington Capitals, having started 10 straight games. He's 7-2-1 with 2.25 goals-against average and .925 save percentage in that time.
Missing Sunday's game at the Philadelphia Flyers was probably a necessary precaution, given that Neuvirth did not feel well even the morning after taking a shot from Alex Ovechkin that knocked his mask off.
Count the Washington Capitals among a swath of teams in the middle ground between buying and selling, as they went into Monday night just one point out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference but also found themselves in 11th place.
The Caps recalled Philipp Grubauer to serve as Braden Holtby's backup Sunday night at the Philadelphia Flyers, and the training staff will keep an eye on Neuvirth.
